DEA ‘Take Back Day’ Encourages Safe Disposal of Old Prescription Drugs

September 25, 2010 saw national ‘Take Back Day’ across the U.S. The Take Back Day event was coordinated by the Drug Enforcement Agency in conjunction with local police departments as a massive effort to safely dispose of old and unused prescription and over the counter drugs.

Studies have shown that many teenagers who later turn to using more dangerous drugs, often begin by consuming the medications that are in their homes and pilfered from their parents’ medicine cabinets. Keeping old and unused medications in the home can also pose other dangers. The chemicals in medications can sometimes turn harmful after a period of time, especially if they are kept long after their expiration date.

Many people often dump their unused medications in the garbage or try to dissolve them in the sink or by flushing them. These improper methods of disposal can be harmful. Children may find medications and consume them, mistaking them for candy, while flushing them could potentially contaminate water supplies. The DEA has recommended crushing up unused pills and mixing them in with used coffee grounds, kitty litter, or other unpalatable solids before disposing of them in the garbage. This will also help to keep animals from unknowingly consuming them from the trash.

Those who missed out on Take Back Day and are concerned about disposing of their medications through the garbage should contact their local pharmacy or physician’s office, who may be able to offer more advice on how to dispose of the medications.

The efforts took place at more than 4,000 sites across the nation and collected more than 3,000 pounds of medications.